To buy cosmetics safely, you have to know how to decipher the INCI lists of their ingredients or rely on apps and initiatives on the subject. The 60 Millions de consommateurs association has just launched Cosméto Score, a rating scale that allows you to see things more clearly.
We have now known this for several years: like household products and food products, cosmetics too often contain ingredients that are harmful to health and pollute the planet. To help consumers make their choice in the cosmetics department, the association 60 million consumers has just launched Cosméto’Score. A measurement scale which, like its Ménag’score or the Nutri’Score, makes it possible to ensure, before buying them, that hygiene and care products are safe for its users and for the environment. This rating system is independent of industrial lobbies and was developed by the National Institute of Consumption, publisher of 60 million consumers.
From A to E, from green to red, products classified according to their toxicity for humans and the planet
Concretely, a double analysis makes it possible to assess the risks of each of the ingredients, taking into account both their importance in the composition, but also the use of the product (if it is a rinsed or no, used daily or occasionally for example).
To inaugurate Cosméto’Score, 60 million consumers chose 86 products, among the most used in France: shower gel, moisturizer, shaving foam, toothpaste and even nail polish and foundation. Each of these products was assigned a rating ranging from A to E.
A: no reservation of use
B: the use of the product must be reasoned
C: the use of the product must remain occasional or in case of specific need
D: the use of the product is not recommended
E: the use of the product is strongly discouraged
If the association notes that it is possible to obtain non-toxic products in each of these categories or almost, it deplores that very commonly purchased products receive a very bad rating because of their composition.
The full results can be found in the September issue of 60 Millions de consommateurs. But here are some of the products that have received a red card and a very bad “E” rating.
Shaving foams suspected of being harmful
In terms of aerosolized shaving foam, according to Cosmeto Score, Carrefour, Nivea Men or Gillette brands should be avoided, which have traces of butadiene, a potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substance.
Potentially carcinogenic toothpastes
Many toothpastes tested also contain toxic substances and in particular heavy metals (tin and zinc) as well as titanium dioxide and / or hydrated silica, suspected of being carcinogenic. Among the brands pinned: Oral B, Sanogyl or Vademecum and Zendium.
Not to mention another widely used product: moisturizers. In addition to polymers (substances used to create a film on the skin and limit water loss) that many of them contain and which are very polluting, several tested references incorporate allergens and sensitizing, irritating and potentially carcinogenic substances. This is the case, for example, with creams from the Marionnaud… and Dior brands! The study thus proves in particular that it is not always enough to pay a high price to ensure a quality product!
Find the entire study in the latest issue of 60 million consumers entitled “Out of the toxic”
Read also : Organic products and yet full of food additives dangerous for health
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